Pennsylvania Woman Killed in ‘Fatal Act of Courage’ After Trying to Stop Fight Outside a Bar

In a tragic incident, a woman was fatally shot while she stepped in to intervene in a confrontation that was taking place outside a bar in Pennsylvania. The incident occurred in the early hours of April 26.

The victim, identified as a 34-year-old woman, Jessica Hilliard, was shot and killed outside Niki's Quick Six in Parks Township, Armstrong County, near Pittsburgh. Hilliard allegedly stepped in to end an escalating dispute that involved another woman, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, the incident began shortly after 1 a.m. on April 26 when a verbal altercation involving a 36-year-old man, identified as David Dunmire, moved into the parking lot.

Investigators said several people rushed outside the bar after a woman entered saying she had been attacked. Authorities alleged that Dunmire then opened fire, striking four people. Hilliard, who had stepped in to intervene, suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and died from her injuries.

Hilliard's sister said she stepped out of the bar to protect women who were cleaning when they were attacked by the accused, in what she described as a fatal act of courage.

'Our sister died a hero, and she is the kind of person who would always jump in to help somebody, regardless of whether she knew them or not. She has been like that her whole life, " said Hilliard's sister, Amanda Evacheck.

Another sister, Hailey Frawley, described the moments leading up to the shooting, saying Hilliard had tried to stop what appeared to be an assault.

"A man was possibly putting his hands on a female and her and another friend tried to step in and stop it," Frawley said. "And that individual who was going after the female is the person who ended up shooting."

Investigators said the gunman fired seven shots as he ran, leaving multiple victims in his wake.

Another 24-year-old woman was critically injured as a result of the gunfire. Two other men, aged 25 and 34, were listed in stable condition after being struck. Residents in the tight-knit community were left shocked in the wake of the violence.

“I was heartbroken, upset, and angry”, said Eric Crusan in comments to WTAE. “Nobody should be shooting somebody over some kind of argument in a bar."

Police said Dunmire remained on the scene and was taken into custody shortly after the shooting. He is facing 16 charges, including four counts of criminal homicide.